Clamp for holding bedclothes



' (No Model.)-

R. MQARTHUR. GL AMP FOR HOLDING- BEDGLOTHES.

No. 420,083. Patented Jan. 28,1890,

N. PEiERs Photo-Lithographer, \vaeh ngt 71C,

' NITIED STATES ROBERT X. MOARTHUR, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE MARSH AND EDWARD O. HALL, BOTH OF ST. ANTHONY PARK,

MINNESOTA.

CLAMP FOR HOLDING BEDCLOTHESI SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,088, dated January 28, 189 0. Application filed May 18, 1889. Serial No. 311,266. (Nomodeh) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT X. MCARTHUR, a citizen of the United States, residing at J ackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Clamps for Holding Bedclothes and for other Purposes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to means for holding on bedclothes over a person occupying the bed, although it is applicable for otherpurposes-such, for example, as holding down tent-covers, 85c. The invention consists of a peculiarly-constructed spring-clasp applied to the end of a strap of elastic webbing or other material, the other end of-which is provided with a hook or loop to adapt the device to be anchored or at tached to a resisting object.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, in the two figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure l is a perspective View, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device applied to a bed.

By preference the clasp or clamp is constructed of spring-wire; and it consists of a bar a, provided with parallel arms 12, extending therefrom substantially at right angles, and having a free tongue 0, between which tongue and the arms I interpose spring-coils cl, so as to render said tongue elastic, the said springs being set to throw the said tongue normally away from the arms. A loop 9 is attached to the arms I) b by eyes f, so as to be capable of freely sliding upon said arms, and said loop is of a height sufficient to extend over the tongue when the said tongue is de pressed into a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the arms I) Z). The springclasp thus constructed is attached by its bar a to a strap g, of elastic webbing, leather, or other flexible material. The other end of this strap is supplied with a loop or hook h, of wire or other material, having an eye 2' to adapt it to engage a screw, a hook, or other object j, for anchoring the device in position for use. I have shown such anchoring device j as a screw applied to a head-post of a bed.

In using the device a portion ofthe bedclothes will be pulled up over the freetongue c, and then said tongue will be depressed and the loop 6 will he slipped over the clothes and tongue covered thereby, and obviously all pull in an opposite direction upon the clothes will serve to tighten the grasp of the loop upon the tongue, and thereby securely hold the bedclothes or whatever other object may be clamped from disengagement from the device.

It will be observed that the springs tend to throw the tongues free end away from the arms, and hence when the bedclothes are slipped over the tongue and the loop has been applied the tongue and bedclothes are forced by the springs against the loop, and therefore the greater the pull upon the bedclothes the more firmly are they and the tongue bound against the loop. The absence of teeth or other biting or nipping edges on the clamp 1s a noticeable feature, for thus are the bedclothes saved from being torn and defaced.

Clamps for analogous purposes being old and well known, a further description of the uses and operation of the device is deemed un- 7 5 necessary.

Of course an elastic strap g is preferred when the device is to be applied as a bedclothes-holder, because it allows movement of the bedclothes without permitting them to become detached, and also by its recoil brings back the clothes to position after the occupant of the bed becomes quiet.

Obviously this device is applicable for use as a stocking-supporter, and for supporting dress-skirts, and for various other purposes.

lVhat I claim is 1. A clamp for holding bedclothes and for other purposes, consisting of a hook or loop for anchoring the device in position for use, a strap attached thereto, and a clasp or clamp attached to said strap and constructed with a cross-bar for purposes of attachment, arms extending therefrom, a tongue pro ecting from the outer ends of said arms and adapted to receive an object by folding the same over the free end of the tongue, springs interposed between the arms and tongue and serving to ren-.

der said tongue itself a spring, and a sliding loop secured to the arms and adapted to engage the tongue when depressed against its spring to secure between itself and the tongue the object folded over the said tongue, substantially as described.

2. A clamp for holding bedclothes and for other purposes, consisting of a hook or loop for anchoring the device in position for use, an elastic strap attached thereto by one end and having an anchoring device at its other end, and a clasp or clamp attached to said strap and constructed with a cross-barfor purposes of attachment, arms extending therefrom, a tongue projecting from the outer ends of' said arms and adapted to receive an object by folding the same over the free end of the tongue, springs interposed between the arms and tongue and serving to render said tongue itself a spring, and a sliding loop secured to the arms and adapted to engage the tongue when depressed against its spring to secure between itself and the tongue the object folded over the said tongue, substantially as described.

3. A clamp for holding bedclothes and for other purposes, comprising the bar at, arms I) 12, extending therefrom substantially at right angles, a tongue 0, and spring-coils cl cl, interposed between the tongue and the arms, the whole constructed of one piece of spring-wire, and a sliding loop secured to the arms and adapted to engage the tongue to clasp and bind between itself and the tongue anobject folded over the free end of the tongue, sub stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of April, A. D. I889.

FIDUS LIvERMoRu, GEo. S. WILsoN. 

